YouSaid · the spoken record

Eckels-Currie

lines on the record: 103
first: 2018-02-22
most recent: 2018-08-28
sittings or episodes: 14
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“If our Russian partners are serious about their concern for refugees and other displaced Syrians, we recommend that they stop enabling the Syrian regime's ongoing and indiscriminate violence, maintain the de-escalation areas and allow unhindered humanitarian access to those in need, in full accordance with resolution 2165 (2014). The best and only durable solution to the humanitarian crisis in Syria is through a credible political process in Geneva that leads unalterably to constitutional reform, United Nations-supervised presidential and parliamentary elections and a political transition that genuinely reflects the will of the Syrian people, as well as accountability for human rights abuses committed during the conflict.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“Despite the assessment of the United Nations, however, the Al-Assad regime has called on Syrians around the world to return home, but has done little to create the conditions necessary to make that a reality. In fact, the regime continues to make the country a threatening and dangerous place for its own people by routinely blocking United Nations cross-border humanitarian access, stalling the United Nations-led political process in Geneva and proceeding with air strikes and ground offensives - placing millions of civilians in peril. As the leading donor of humanitarian assistance for Syria, the United States supports aid that reaches 4 million Syrians across all 14 governorates every month, and we will continue to provide that support to the Syrian people.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“The United States is also deeply concerned that the regime may again use chemical weapons against civilian populations as part of its assault on Idlib, with devastating consequences for humanitarian conditions on the ground and further eroding the international regime prohibiting the use of chemical weapons. As we made clear in our joint statement to commemorate the anniversary of the regime's deadly sarin gas attack in Ghouta, the United States and our allies, France and the United Kingdom, will respond appropriately to any new chemical-weapon attacks by the Al-Assad regime. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees assesses that conditions in Syria are not yet conducive for large-scale refugee returns.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“The United States takes seriously the warnings from Special Envoy of the Secretary-General De Mistura and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator that a military operation in Idlib and surrounding areas would not only endanger the lives of many of the more than 3 million civilians sheltering there, but would also severely interfere with humanitarian partners' ability to deliver lifesaving assistance. Unless the Astana guarantors - Russia, Iran and Turkey 4 uphold their own established de-escalation zone in Idlib province to stop the regime's imminent assault, those civilians will have nowhere left to turn to seek safe refuge or aid.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“We are also profoundly troubled by reports that the regime is continuing its practice of targeting medical facilities, an egregious and ruthless tactic flagrantly in defiance of international humanitarian law and specifically in violation ofresolution 2286 (2016). There is no excuse to claim ignorance about the locations of those facilities under the deconfliction mechanisms that are in place. Doing so only adds to the lies, crimes and countless accounts of human tragedy that have defined this conflict over the past seven years.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“I thank Mr. John Ging for his briefing. All eyes are now on north-western Syria, and we are gravely concerned about the threats to civilian lives should the regime and its allies undertake a wider offensive in Idlib province. Tensions are rising there, and so is the violence. In recent weeks alone, hundreds of civilians have already lost their lives, many of them women and children. Education authorities reportedly have suspended all school activities for several days in cities near Idlib due to hostilities. Syrian regime military operations in Idlib, particularly with Russian military support, would escalate the conflict and further undercut the Security Council's efforts to work towards a political solution to the conflict.”
2018-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8332 (2018) · source
“We have to use the tools that we have to ensure that we are doing our part to protect civilian lives and fulfil our own conventional and customary obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. That is not something that any of us can do alone, but that should not stop all of us from taking the robust national and regional steps we can. We will need solid commitments and urgent action by all to truly and effectively protect innocent human lives.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Fourthly, we should use all the prevention tools we have at our disposal to stop cycles of conflict, build social cohesion and promote and protect human rights. We note the Secretary-General's important leadership on the prevention and peacebuilding agendas. Finally, the international community must give this issue the attention it deserves. Today is an important step in that regard. We all know it is not enough to merely be outraged by the accounts we have heard here today - and pretty much every other week that we sit in the Council. It is not enough to say the right things in the Chamber and then walk out of here and do nothing. We must remain committed to promoting the protection of civilians by doing our own part as well.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Thirdly, each State should ensure that they have appropriate legislative and institutional arrangements to address current and prevent future violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of fundamental human rights. Accountability is essential to provide both justice for victims of such violations and to end the culture of impunity that leads to them in the first place. Individual States should also investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute crimes committed within their jurisdiction. Credible national accountability efforts should be encouraged and supported along with other mechanisms, including fact-finding missions, commissions of inquiry and international and hybrid tribunals. Those mechanisms are critical when national options are unavailable or futile.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“But what else can we, as the Security Council or as Member States, do to promote respect for international human rights law? For one, we as the Security Council should stand in solidarity against genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing, and work together to adopt urgently needed resolutions in all such cases. Secondly, we as the Council should use the entire range of tools at our disposal that can and should be employed to compel parties to comply with applicable international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and to promote accountability for breaches or violations. That includes sanctions, arms embargoes, fact-finding missions, independent mechanisms to gather, collect and store evidence, and justice mechanisms to bring to justice those responsible for those violations.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“For example, the Principles call for troop- contributing countries to empower military commanders of peacekeeping contingents to use force to protect civilians, knowing that if commanders have to wait hours and hours for guidance from their capitals, it may be too late to prevent a fast-approaching attack on a nearby village. If properly implemented, there is little doubt that the Kigali Principles would make peacekeeping missions more effective, improve civilian security and save lives. We also join our United Kingdom colleagues in support of the human rights elements of peacekeeping missions. Their work fulfils crucial protection and prevention aspects of Council mandates, to which all Council members, but especially the five permanent members, have agreed.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Improving the protection of civilians in peacekeeping requires increased accountability, and the United States welcomes the Secretary-General's steps to institutionalize a culture of accountability for performance in United Nations peacekeeping, starting with the development and implementation of a comprehensive performance policy that identifies transparent standards for performance and details measures to hold underperformers accountable. The United States stands firmly behind the commitment to enhancing performance for the protection of civilians and encourages all Member States to do the same by supporting the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians, which were designed to help peacekeepers effectively implement their protection-of- civilian mandates.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“In missions across the globe, peacekeepers today serve at great personal risk and act heroically, in many cases, to protect civilians. However, we also still have far too many examples of peacekeepers failing to take necessary action to protect civilians. We continue to see units retreat from towns they are supposed to protect rather than standing their ground as armed attackers approach. We continue to see those who are responsible for protecting civilians abuse their positions of trust.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“We have an obligation to insist on unhindered humanitarian access for all those in need and on safe, voluntary evacuations of civilians compelled to flee their homes, consistent with our obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. It is critical that all States Members of the United Nations do their part to protect civilians. The United States welcomes the Secretary- General's steps to improve peacekeeping and revive a sense of collective responsibility for the success of United Nations peacekeeping operations. But we need to be honest and clear when Member States are not living up to their commitments, and we - especially we in the Council - should be willing to apply meaningful pressure when parties to a conflict do not change course.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Millions more are either missing or have been forced from their homes, and medical and humanitarian personnel are being targeted at an alarming rate. Sexual violence increasingly is being used as a tactic of war, and victims continue to be targeted based on their ethnic and religious backgrounds. Member States seemingly feel no qualms about routinely denying humanitarian access to civilians in dire need, from Burma to Yemen. We all have an obligation and moral duty to demand and uphold the international community's resounding rejection of the use of chemical weapons in war 100 years ago, after the First World War demonstrated the horrors of these weapons. We all have an obligation to uphold Security Council resolutions that call for the protection of schools, medical facilities and even journalists from being targets in war.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Briefings such as hers give us a real sense of the reality on the ground, and we encourage the Council to continue this important practice. The Secretary-General's report (S/2018/462) paints a dismal picture of the protection of civilians in the field and in its paragraph 5 describes a "state of unrelenting horror and suffering affecting millions of women, children and men across all conflicts". The state of affairs with respect to the protection of civilians is bleak, and millions of people are bearing the consequences. Tens ofthousands of innocent people are dying from unlawful attacks involving explosive weapons and chemical weapons, deliberate attacks on schools and medical facilities, extrajudicial killings, starvation, sexual violence and blatant disregard for international humanitarian law.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Mr. President, allow me to welcome you to the Council. I wish to thank Secretary-General Guterres for his comments this morning, and I also want to thank Mr. Daccord for his briefing today. It is good to see him again after many years. I believe that the last time I saw him was when I was still working for the International Committee of the Red Cross, which seems like a lifetime ago. It is, unfortunately, under circumstances that are not so positive, as he is here giving us a stark reminder of the horrific situation that far too many innocent civilians now endure in conflicts across the globe. We are strongly encouraged by the presence here today of Ms. Hanaa Edwar and her testimony before the Council.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“We have to send a clear message to the Al-Assad regime and its backers: the end of the conflict can be reached only via the United Nations-led political process. There must be constitutional reform and free and fair elections under United Nations supervision. If the Al-Assad regime does not comply, we need to be prepared to impose real costs on it for its years of defiance and the devastation it has wrought in Syria. If we take those steps, we can start to change the calculus of the Al-Assad regime and its allies in Syria. We can show them that further conflict is not in their interests and that it is time for them to genuinely commit to a political solution. But as we saw last week, the longer we wait, the greater the risk of confrontation. Now is the time to act to reduce tensions and address Iran's designs in Syria.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“Already, we see the Al-Assad regime launching new attacks in Idlib and the south-west. As Staffan noted, a Ghouta scenario in Idlib would be six times worse than the horror we saw in recent months in Ghouta. Air strikes in the south- west have tripled in the last month, even though that area is part ofa de-escalation zone. Russia is supposed to be a sponsor of that zone. It must urgently meet its commitments to prevent the regime from carrying out attacks and stop Iranian militias from expanding their foothold in the south. Members of the Security Council - all of us - must push the political process forward. There is Council unity behind that goal. There is a clear blueprint for a political solution in resolution 2254 (2015), which we adopted unanimously.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“It used chemical weapons in Douma. Just yesterday, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Fact-finding Mission released a report determining that chlorine was used during attacks on 4 February in Saraqib. As reported by the Fact-finding Mission, the facts of that chemical-weapons attack bear the hallmarks of similar attacks conducted by the Al-Assad regime. As we have said before, the United States assesses that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons well over 50 times since the start of the civil war. The Al-Assad regime, with Iran's and Russia's full support, is choosing to pursue a military solution instead of a political solution, and that goes against everything we should stand for as the Security Council. In the aftermath of eastern Ghouta, the need for a real ceasefire could not be more obvious.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“They only inflame, prolong and widen the conflict. We heard once again from Staffan today that there has been very little progress on the political track. There has been no progress at all in Geneva, or following Russia's own conferences in Astana and Sochi. Since January, the United Nations was supposed assemble a new constitution drafting committee that would help kick off a new round of talks. The United Nations was supposed to have the ability to choose which people would serve on the committee, and the United Nations was supposed to be empowered to facilitate those talks. Instead, the Al-Assad regime has backtracked, stalled and then refused to cooperate. At the same time, the Syrian regime escalated its brutal military campaign. It seized eastern Ghouta, at the cost of thousands of lives and tens of thousands displaced.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“It is also important to emphasize that Iran's actions do not serve the interests of the Iranian or the Syrian people. The Syrian people get no say in whether Iran threatens war against Syria's neighbours, but it is they who have to live with the consequences. All ofus on the Security Council have an important choice to make: we can stay quiet and watch as Iran builds up the infrastructure to create another Hizbullah in Syria, or we can speak up and take steps to put real pressure on Iran to stop. For our part, the United States refuses to stay quiet. Russia in particular has a special responsibility here. Its troops are on the ground, sometimes alongside Iran's. Russia must know that Iran's provocative actions do nothing to help resolve the war in Syria. Russia must know that Iran's actions do just the opposite.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“Last week's rocket attack against Israel is the latest in a pattern of destabilizing behaviour that is a dire threat to the region's stability. Iran's rocket attack against Israel shows something else too. It puts to bed any myths about why Iran is present in Syria, or what its true objectives might be. The fact is that Iran has installed offensive rocket and missile systems in Syria aimed at Israel. Iran has introduced those threats that were not present in Syria before the conflict; they are now. Iran, together with Hizbullah and other militias, is taking advantage of Syrian territory to establish bases and training camps. They are moving ever closer to Israel. The United States calls on Iran, Hizbullah and their other proxies to take no further provocative steps. If they do, Iran will bear full responsibility for its actions.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“Since this is my first opportunity to congratulate you upon assuming the presidency, Madam President, I would like to do so at this time. I also thank Staffan for his briefing. Last week the world witnessed a new and extremely dangerous escalation in Syria. It should not surprise anyone on the Security Council that Iran was responsible. Iranian forces operating from Syrian territory launched a rocket attack against Israeli citizens - citizens of a sovereign State Member of the United Nations. The United States strongly supports Israel's right to act in self-defence. Iran's reckless and provocative acts last week prove what we have been saying: wherever Iran shows up in the Middle East, chaos follows.”
2018-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8260 (2018) · source
“That political will must include the protection and promotion of human rights and commitments to building just and equitable governing structures. While we are far from resolving many of the conflicts facing the world today, we are optimistic that the Secretary-General's focus on United Nations reform and on peacebuilding and sustaining peace will yield good results. The United States looks forward to continuing to work with all members of the Security Council and the General Assembly to that end.”
2018-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8243 (2018) · source
“Even more critical is the inclusion of civil society actors in peacebuilding planning, including women and youth leaders, human rights activists, experts in transitional justice and others. Only when all voices in a society are heard and human rights and human dignity are respected can effective and lasting transitions to peace occur. Equally important to sustaining peace and peacebuilding are partnerships with the World Bank and other international financial institutions, as well as the role ofthe private sector. Addressing socioeconomic challenges is an extremely important element of peacebuilding and requires greater engagement with multiple stakeholders. Governments must hold up their side of the deal, cooperating with United Nations agencies and, most importantly, demonstrating the political will to build and sustain peace.”
2018-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8243 (2018) · source
“The Liberian Government committed to working with the peacekeeping mission, the United Nations country team, local stakeholders and international partners to implement the steps laid out in this first-of-its-kind plan to sustain peace in the years to come. That should be the best-practice model for similar transitions in future. We know that every situation is different. As we have seen in Haiti, for instance, United Nations police can play an essential role in ensuring viable exit strategies. A critical aspect of achieving mission exit strategies is better integration of the police into all aspects of mission planning and ensuring that the United Nations Police Division is empowered to properly assess, plan, deploy, manage and support peace operations.”
2018-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8243 (2018) · source
“We have emphasized the importance of sustainable exit strategies for peacekeeping missions and noted that peacekeeping cannot be a substitute for political solutions. Better integration ofpeacebuilding strategies into the exit strategies of peacekeeping missions can help enable sustainable political transitions. The Security Council did precisely that when it mandated that the United Nations to devise a peacebuilding plan for Liberia in preparation for the closure of the mission there. The United Nations devised that plan in close coordination with the Government of Liberia and with the participation of civil society. The result was something that all parties could support and something of which we should all be proud.”
2018-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8243 (2018) · source
“The United States, however, does not support suggestions to repurpose, reprogramme or tie a percentage of peacekeeping budget funds to peacebuilding. We encourage countries to provide voluntary funding to the Peacebuilding Fund. Access to assessed funding is not a panacea for all problems, and it will not fix the fundamental obstacles to effective peacebuilding, namely, the lack of coherence and coordination across existing programmes and the lack of political will to integrate conflict prevention and the promotion of human rights at the country level and across the United Nations. One area where we would like to see better integration of peacebuilding resources is in enabling sustainable exit strategies for United Nations peace operations, including plans for a viable transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding.”
2018-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8243 (2018) · source
“That includes integrated strategic frameworks and the United Nations development assistance frameworks and greater in-country cross- pillar cooperation, such as among the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, global focal point for police, justice and corrections, and the Joint UNDP-Department of Political Affairs Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention and its Peace and Development Advisers. We must do more to get in front of and head off the drivers and underlying causes of conflict. We also urge the Peacebuilding Support Office to provide greater information on peacebuilding and sustaining peace best practices for the Peacebuilding Commission and Member States to draw from when they are working to prevent conflict and sustain peace.”
2018-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8243 (2018) · source
“Towards that end, we are optimistic that the General Assembly's endorsement of the Secretary- General's proposal to integrate the Peacebuilding Support Office into the Department of Political Affairs will help break down existing institutional silos that prevent us from using all the tools we have to prevent conflict and maintain global peace and security. Structural change alone will not ensure the success ofpeacebuilding. Changes in the way the United Nations thinks are necessary in order to ensure sustainable peace. We encourage the Secretary-General to follow through on many of the good ideas and commitments in the report on peacebuilding and sustaining peace (S/2018/43).”
2018-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8243 (2018) · source
“I thank the Peruvian presidency for calling for and presiding over this important briefing on peacebuilding and sustaining peace. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General, Mr. Neculaescu and Mr. Chergui for their briefings. Virtually every conflict-affected country considered by the Security Council has struggled with consolidating peace in the aftermath of conflict. The United Nations has often struggled to find and apply the right tools to prevent crises and break cycles of conflict. The United States believes in the admirable goals of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture, as established.”
2018-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8243 (2018) · source
“More than half of the global population will be affected by the commitments made in the Security Council today, and we therefore urge Council members to redouble their efforts aimed at amplifying the voices of young peacebuilders and youth leaders in the fight against violent extremism and its drivers, address the push and pull factors that open the door to violent extremism for so many disenfranchised youth, allow space for young leaders to bring forward political solutions to some of today's most intractable problems, provide more positive alternative pathways for our young people and continue to find creative ways to strengthen partnerships between Government and youth, because the young people with us in the Chamber today are not just our future, they are also our present - right now, today.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“We must focus on those and other efforts aimed at ensuring that young people are engaged on issues of conflict and security, that they are empowered to take action to prevent and mitigate violence affecting their communities and that their voices are elevated above the fray of conflicting geopolitical interests. We have come a long way and made strides in firmly establishing young people as partners for peace, but we need to continue building upon resolution 2250 (2015) and turn the ink into action.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“How can we empower them to define their futures and overcome life's obstacles? This is done, first of all, by protecting them. In fiscal year 2017, the United States provided more than $8 billion in emergency humanitarian assistance worldwide, and we will continue to provide life-saving protection for the world's most vulnerable populations. The United States, through our more than 300 Embassies, Consulates and Diplomatic Missions all over the world, maintains strong partnerships with host Governments, non-governmental organizations and youth-focused organizations on the ground. We strongly support programmes that address drivers of conflict and violence, by engaging young people as partners and key actors in fostering social cohesion and tolerance.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“One example of a programme we undertake that aims to prevent violent extremism is the Peer-To-Peer: Challenging Extremism programme, which is a public- private partnership with over 40 universities worldwide, in which university students compete to develop the best anti-terrorist narratives. In Tunisia, we support young leaders through the Sharekna project, working with their communities to strengthen resilience in the face of economic, political and social stresses. Young leaders are mapping their communities and facilitating community dialogues to identify issues, then working with stakeholders to respond to these challenges. The Secretary-General's progress study shows that in 2016 there were more than 408 million young people residing in settings affected by armed conflict or organized violence.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“We can start by providing greater educational opportunities to youth across the globe, to both young men and women. Education is also a critical preventive tool that can help deter youth from the enticement of global extremists or global criminal networks. We can also address some of the underlying feelings in relation to a lack of fairness and justice that many young people feel when rule-of-law issues are ignored. Important factors such as equal treatment under the law, protecting the freedom of expression and public avenues to voice discontent and ensuring access to political and economic opportunities help to thwart the attraction of violent extremist ideologies. The United States is committed to developing programmes that promote leadership and prosperity.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“The knowledge that young people are the primary targets for potential recruitment by extremist organizations should prompt us to build upon current efforts to engage this generation by supporting their voices, ideas and youth-led local solutions. Push factors such as poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, discrimination, boredom and marginalization can lead people down paths of violent extremism. Pull factors such as ideology, a sense of belonging, the prospects of fame or glory and other benefits can draw people towards violent extremist groups. We are in a race against terrorists and violent extremists. We must do more to address the push and pull factors driving young people to violent extremism and provide better alternatives.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“As the President of Volunteer for Bangladesh, Chittagong, the largest platform for youth volunteerism in Bangladesh, in 2015 Tanzil organized numerous successful events for community development, engaged hundreds of young people in volunteerism simply because she believes that if young people are engaged and motivated to do community service, they will be deterred from violent extremist activities. She is now working with Rohingya refugees, helping to support a safe space for 500 children in the Rohingya camps. We will also recognize Omar Dahman, Executive Director of the Hebron Youth Development Resource Centre, in the West Bank. He has created a unique safe space for over 2,000 Palestinian young people to learn, interact and lead, including using youth-to- youth entrepreneurship, peacebuilding training and civic engagement.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“Young people today demand a seat at the table, and we should not hesitate to make room for them. The United States has long recognized that young people have the ability to help drive their communities, economies and countries forward, and we proudly invest in exchanges and programmes aimed at empowering youth to achieve greater peace and prosperity. Next week, on 2 May, we will hold the third Emerging Young Leaders Awards and Exchange Programme in Washington, DC, where we will recognize 10 outstanding global youth leaders who have made a real impact as peacebuilders. One of those outstanding leaders is 24-year-old Tanzil Ferdous of Bangladesh, who promotes youth and community development and women's rights in that country.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“If empowered with meaningful opportunities and treated in a fair, just and inclusive manner, global youth can be a catalyst for economic growth and lasting peace the world over, but if ignored, marginalized or disempowered, if treated in an unjust or unfair manner, they risk becoming vulnerable to the forces of instability and conflict. The stakes could therefore not be higher for all of us. We cannot afford to marginalize or ignore 4.5 billion people, especially when we have the ability to influence their choices in a positive way. As evidenced by our incredible speakers today, many young people have the drive, tenacity and ability necessary to help bring sustainable peace and stability to countries around the world, and we should waste no time in tapping into that talent.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“When we say youth, it is important to put the numbers into perspective. The progress study notes that there are 1.8 billion young people in the world, which is a huge number but it only represents young people between the ages of 10 and 24, the former United Nations definition before resolution 2250 (2015). Within the United States, we often define youth more broadly, as anyone under the age of 35. If that definition is used, we are talking about more than 4.5 billion people, or 60 per cent of the world's population. This is both an incredible opportunity and a huge challenge.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“I thank Jayathma, Sophia and Kessy for their briefings this morning. These amazing young women inspire and humble us all with their poise, power and energy. It is such a great relief to be here today. Whereas we usually spend our time discussing some of the most challenging and dispiriting events in the world, today, instead, we get to discuss a topic that is positive, motivating and encouraging for all of us: youth, peace and security. The United States supported resolution 2250 (2015) because we believe it is imperative for the Security Council to encourage youth to contribute to peace and security. We strongly welcome the Secretary-General's progress study on youth and peace and security (see S/2018/86), which says very clearlyjust how crucial and overdue this conversation is, and we thank Mr. Simpson for his work on the report.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“More than ever, we need to focus on ensuring that the Council's demand for a ceasefire and for unhindered humanitarian access actually gets implemented on the ground, but that would require the Al-Assad regime to stop its brutal campaign against the Syrian people, and the countries with influence over Al-Assad to join us in demanding that the Al-Assad regime stop is senseless slaughter of the Syrian people. The United States will not stop focusing on the ways to achieve that goal, no matter how many times our Russian colleagues convene these cynical, thinly disguised diversions.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8236 (2018) · source
“Over 151,000 civilians were displaced. Now fighting is escalating in north-western Syria. Between 2 and 17 April, Syrian and Russian air strikes damaged four medical facilities in that part of the country - a disturbing repeat of previous circumstances. Between mid-March and early April, air strikes reportedly killed another 188 civilians and injured 120 others. In addition to a ceasefire, the Council has also called again and again for unhindered humanitarian access in Syria. However, since the beginning of 2018, the Syrian authorities have only allowed six cross-line interagency convoys to deliver humanitarian aid - six. That is just five per cent of the cross-line assistance requested by the United Nations.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8236 (2018) · source
“Russia has called us here as part ofa messaging campaign to try to distract from the atrocities committed by the Al-Assad regime. In order to do that, Russia has asked the Security Council to focus its attention on the one part of Syria where the Al-Assad regime is not pummelling civilians to death with barrel bombs or banned chemical weapons. Consider what has taken place since the Security Council demanded a ceasefire in resolution 2401 (2018). On 24 February, the Council demanded a halt to the fighting in Syria. Instead, the same day the resolution was adopted, the Al-Assad regime flagrantly disregarded it. The Al-Assad regime and its backers ignored the Council and launched an all-out campaign to seize eastern Ghouta. The campaign culminated in the use of chemical weapons against innocent men, women and children.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8236 (2018) · source
“This task is not easy, thanks to the quantity of munitions ISIS left behind, but we recognize this work is vital to ensure Syrians can return home safely. On top of mine clearance in Raqqa, we have provided more than $50 million in food and non-food items to the most vulnerable. For example, we have given close to 300,000 pounds of food and 151 million litres of water to more than 195,000 people. I could go on and talk about the schools and medical clinics we have supported or our efforts to restore electricity. We would be happy to brief our fellow Council members at any time on those details. The issue is that we are not here to educate ourselves about the work of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Raqqa and our continued efforts to facilitate cross- line delivery into Rukban.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8236 (2018) · source
“In Rukban, Coalition forces are also acting to support humanitarian efforts and have worked with the United Nations and other partners to provide requested details on operational security and medical evacuations. The bottom line is that the United States is ready to support humanitarian deliveries. The delay, as always, continues to be whether the Al-Assad regime will grant permission for United Nations convoys to move. We keep hearing in this Chamber about mine clearance in Raqqa. Removing unexploded ordnance is one of our top priorities when it comes to stabilizing the area: so far we have cleared almost 3,000 explosive remnants of war; we have cleared almost 300 critical infrastructure sites; provided mine risk education for 40,000 people and trained over 120 Syrians to conduct demining operations.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8236 (2018) · source
“While we went after ISIS and actually achieved lasting gains for the Syrian people, the Al-Assad regime was busy bombarding civilians in places like Aleppo, Idlib and eastern Ghouta. The Coalition's operations were carried out in scrupulous regard for the laws of war and to minimize civilian casualties. In Raqqa, our partners conducted a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood evacuation of civilians ISIS had trapped in the city. The United States will once again put on the record that United Nations humanitarian convoys are welcome at any time in Raqqa or Rukban. We welcome that assistance and are ready to do everything that we can to assist it. As Under-Secretary-General Lowcock noted, a United Nations inter-agency team successfully carried out an assessment in Raqqa just two weeks ago.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8236 (2018) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary-General Lowcock once again for his briefing. As always, he informs us and puts the gravity of Syria's humanitarian situation in perspective. First, given all of the interesting accusations we heard earlier, I want to make a few points crystal clear. The 75 members of the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) joined forces to liberate people from ISIS control in Iraq, and the Coalition continues our campaign to eradicate ISIS in Syria. Despite the difficulty of the task, our operations have succeeded in rolling back the so-called ISIS caliphate and addressing a dire threat to our collective peace and security. The Coalition made those gains while the Al-Assad regime and its backers focused their guns mostly on the Syrian opposition groups that were not ISIS terrorists.”
2018-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8236 (2018) · source